Ovarain Cyst 18cm

I have just been to get the results from my scan and the doctors have found an ovarian cyst 18cm! I have been told that this is large and he has referred to my Gynaecologist as Urgent does anyone have any idea how long it will be before I am contacted and what type of operation ios needed? my stomach is huge and I look 6 months pregnent can't wait to get this thing out but I am concerned that it could be cancerous, I am 28 years old.

Because it is so large I feel that they will contact you quickly for fear of rupture. At the same time, what one doctor feels to be urgent, another may not. Someone told me that the larger a cyst is the less likely it is to be cancerous, whether or not that is true, I do not know. Let us know how things turn out.

Xray - Thanks for responding, in the UK we have to wait for the NHS to contact and in all honesty it is a nightmare ... is the waiting that I can't really handle. I have been told that I will not be able to have keyhole surgery due to the size of the cyst do you know what surgery I will need and recovery time?

You will probably have to have a laparotomy which is open abdominal surgery to remove the cyst possibly the entire ovary. It will depend on your doctor. The keyhole they say that you cannot have is called laparoscopic surgery with a tiny incision at your "belly button".

HI,
I just went through surgery for a 20cm cyst. Who knows if you'll end up with the same thing, especially since your on the other side of the world (I'm in NJ-USA). You're probably correct in the thinking you'll have to have more of a surgery than a laporoscopy (going through the belly button area) because of your cysts size. I had a laporotomy (sp?) which is were they had to make an incision as if I was having a C-Section, bikini cut from one hip to the other. About 10 years ago I had had a hysterectomy, already had a scar there, so the dr. cut on the same incision area. The recovery time is different from the first as the laporoscopy is only about 3 days and the laporotomy is somewhere are 3 weeks or so. I can't really say only because the first time, the hysterectomy was so long ago and then this time, which was in October, well I don't ant to scar you because I haven't heard of this happening to too many people, but because of the cysts size it crushed my intestines so for 3 weeks I was in the hospital being feed introvenesly (sp?) so I could have another major surgery, which I had, they took 1 foot of my small intestine so I had another recovery time. So.... Just from my experiences though be glad the doctors want to take care of things right away. Being a working mom during a super busy time of the year all of this has thrown me for a loop and I still feel, somedays, the effects...getting tired or small amounts of pain to tell me to slow down. Anyway, keep on top of things and please keep me posted as to how you make out. You're in my prayers and I'm sure, by the sounds of things, you'll be doing fine in no time!! Sandy

Guess what me too.Mine is 25cms.and I found out after thanksgiving and guess what?Hadnt had sergery (surgery) yet.What I can tell you is that results take 24 hours and I went back sat and waited.My sergery (surgery) was sceduled for the 20th and they put it off again.I am in no pain thank God but Ive heard if it ruptures the pain will be extra I suggest you avoid sex and heavy lifting ,just dont lift cause it feel like I am pregnant.Get rest and oh the pillow is comfort on the sidee of the cyst.I wish you luck

Hello TJ - I'm in the UK too - different situation - I have ovarian cancer and received lots of very rapid good treatment once they diagnosed. Very very unlikely at your age ie cancer but better safe than sorry. Have they done a CA125 blood test - it's the one for ovarian cancer - if you're not sure really pester your GP to get it done. Many GPs do not see ovarian cancer cases other than very occasionally and tend to underplay the possibilities as I know to my cost. If it does come back with elevated score (very unlikely) make sure you are referred to a Gynaecologist/Oncologist, not a general Gyn. If not and you are still very uncomfortable, ring up the Gyn's secretary at the local hospital a number of times stressing your misery and anxiety and just make a nuisance of yourself until they give you an early appointment. They'll probably do it just to get rid of you! You can pester your GP as well but it can tend to hold things up more. Hope you hear soon and get your op date asap.

I was diagnosed with a cyst that was originally 20 x 20 x 14 cm. 9 weeks ago...it has since grown to 23 x 23 x 18 cm. Here in Canada, well Calgary anyway, it wasn't considered an emergency because there is not a lot of pain, lots of discomfort with my other organs being crushed, but with the cyst itself there is not much pain at all! Oh, and there was no chance I was getting surgery through the Christmas holidays, that I was told straight up (unless of course, it ruptured!!)So, after finally seeing a specialist and she recongnized the sheer size of this thing ( I am looking about 8 months pregnant, now) it finally became more important! But, it has taken since Jan. 2 to secure an operating room...I have surgery on Jan. 20...WooHoo!! Talk about an easy way to resolve a New Year's resolution...HaHa! The nurse at the specialist office said that she probably owes the booking lady at the hospital her first born, because even at the size the alien is now, they still don't consider it an emergency, which me, my doctors and everyone else in the free world knows to the contrary!! Anyway, I hope that your part of the world is a little more sympathetic to your situation and that you get the treatment you deserve in a timely fashion! The waiting is the worst, just keep looking to the results and try not to dwell on the problem, it will be removed and you be back to normal soon!! I will let you know how it goes and what you can expect!! Feel better!! - Lisa

All - thankyou for all your words and support, I am still waiting for a date for when I am booked in to see my Gynaecologist it is nice to know that I am not the only one that has an Alien growing!

Xray - thanks again for your advice.

Sandy - I hope that you start to feel yourself agains soon it can't be nice going through all this and being a busy Mum.

Mondo - Oh my god your Alien is huge! Good job that it isn't causing you any pain, fantastic news that your having your operation soon I hope that it all goes well and your not on to much pain, my thoughts will be with you keep me posted.

Barney - No they haven't done a blood test yet thank you for your advise I will ask them for a test, they may do this when I have my consultation appointment, I am glad that you are receiving good care from the NHS, beleive me I am making a nuisance of myself if I hadn't I don't think that I would even of had my scan, I wish you a speedy recovery.

I am so glad that I have found this site, I will keep you all updated.

It's a wonderful thing falling upon this site...I agree!! I have found much comfort in the last couple of weeks knowing that I am not the only chick in the world that has an ALIEN on board!!

It's a real shocker at first and the sheer magnitude of the size is surley enough to send anyone over the deep end, but don't let it get the better of you! I have moments where I feel like it's all too much, typically when I'm trying to get dressed and what not, but you need to find solice in knowing that when our aliens are this size, they are typically not much more than a sack of nasty goo. It is not very often that the docs find these things to have complications.

Being persistant and a general pain in the behind is truly your best approach!! Even though it has taken me 9-10 weeks to get surgery, it IS coming and I WILL be back to normal and into my jeans within weeks!!

Keep your chin up and be a pain and most of all laugh, it really helps!

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